Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

off like a bride's nightie

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.03 in modern English

Syllables: of-f -like a bride's night-ie
IPA

38

Scrabble Score

21

Letters

4

Syllables

15

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Making a rapid departure; away.

Australian usage; Slang

adj

Making a rapid departure; away.

Australian usage; Slang

Example Sentences

"Just before it was to be his shout, he was off like a bride′s nightie."
"Missing because I′d been happy and didn′t need him, though I went to him fast enough when the happiness was over. Off like a bride′s nightie."
"‘[…]Tell me, are you still intending to join the armed forces?’ ‘Soon as ever I can, judge,’ Joe told him firmly, ‘I′ll be off like a bride′s nightie.’"
"‘S′not that,’ she said, ‘It′s just if I give in so soon he′ll be off like a bride′s nightie. So I have to get it elsewhere, if you know what I mean.[…]’"

Etymology

A reference to the supposed eagerness of just-married couples to have sexual intercourse on the night of their wedding. Australian from 1960.

Usage

Phrases

shoot through like a Bondi tram

Frequently Paired Words

shoot through like a Bondi tram

Synonyms

off like a prom dress

Questions

What does off like a bride's nightie mean?: Making a rapid departure; away.
Where does off like a bride's nightie come from?: A reference to the supposed eagerness of just-married couples to have sexual intercourse on the night of their wedding. Australian from 1960.

How to pronounce off like a bride's nightie

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